I Took 27 days mostly off of work (got to love mobile broadband/cell phones) to go out and meet up again with my great friends at the BMWST Unrally VI (www.unrally.com) (www.bmwst.com) and ride around the great roads of West Virgina.
Of course saw some beautiful country on the way out in the desert of Nevada, the red rock cliffs of S. Utah and the Rockies in Colorado. Couple of days across the flat states and I arrived in WVA to some humid but still pleasant weather. Saw a bunch of people I hadn't seen in a while, had some good times and good food, not to mention the great unstriped one lane backroads.

Then from there I kind of just planned day by day where I was going, what I was going to see etc. Ended up heading north to Niagra Falls, checking out Toronto for a day while a flat was fixed. Many thanks to Budd's BMW Motorrad of Oakville for getting me fixed up ASAP, hiring me a car for the day and also fixing the fork seals and slight engine oil leak. (latter of which Santa Rosa BMW hadn't figured out in 3 visits)

Then I headed back down into the UP of Michigan to pick up a replacement motorcycle mount for the failed Zumo 550, and out to Theodore Roosevelt NP (South) in Medora, ND. Medora was a great little town mostly owned by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and pretty much still around just for Tourism and Golf, with it's handy location right outside the park.

After a couple of days in the hot badlands, it was back north through Canada to Jasper and Banff National Parks, which are just freaking incredible. It was quite cold and I was happy I bought Gerbing's (heated clothing) in St. Cloud MN from a friendly HD dealer. (thanks for looking all over for that BMW plug adapter!)

By the way, Jasper Park Lodge is the nicest single property I've stayed at. The combination of a great 4 star Fairmont property with the beautiful relatively isolated location and scenery made it a total winner and a must stay if you are in the area.

Had a full day of exploring the area with limited rain/flurries, then headed down Icefields parkway (CAN-93) which is one of the most scenic highways in North America. It was also quite cold, overcast, snowing flurries now and then as well. Got to walk out on Athabasca Glacier a bit and then head down into Banff in some heavy rain. Checked out Lake Louise and had a nice ride along the side roads in the area then headed back home via Spokane and Klamath Falls.

Then in another side case the Gitzo 1228MK2 CF Tripod with head removed, and the markins plate for it with a RRS BH-40 head... Tripod only fit partially disassembled which was a PITA but neccesary for a few shots.

Threw the Dell XPS M1210 in a zeroshock slipcase in another side case with the clothes and other crap. There literally was not space on the bike for anything. I couldn't buy a coffee mug or anything about that size or larger since there would be nowhere to put it. Tankbag was stuffed as well.

Sweet! very cool trip. I'm still kicking myself for not taking more pics on my X-country bike trip. I would past a spot and think; "that would make a cool picture" then continue on my way.

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If you only knew how many times I did that as well, I am kicking myself for just riding past some incredible spots because I just stopped 5 minutes ago and took off the helmet/gloves and put them back on and I need to be somewhere 400 miles away still.

To everyone, even if you don't have a sporttouring/enduro bike or the time to get out somewhere far away I highly recommend flying out to some of these amazing places and renting a BMW GS / Honda ST / BMW RT / some similar kind of bike, possibly even a HD since leaking oil isn't your problem

It's so much better than a rental car to see the world, it's not even funny.

If you only knew how many times I did that as well, I am kicking myself for just riding past some incredible spots because I just stopped 5 minutes ago and took off the helmet/gloves and put them back on and I need to be somewhere 400 miles away still.

To everyone, even if you don't have a sporttouring/enduro bike or the time to get out somewhere far away I highly recommend flying out to some of these amazing places and renting a BMW GS / Honda ST / BMW RT / some similar kind of bike, possibly even a HD since leaking oil isn't your problem

It's so much better than a rental car to see the world, it's not even funny.

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Very true. Sometimes just the act of stopping was a chore. On my 10 day trip, the temp never dropped below 90 degrees and often was over 100. The wind blowing over me was my only source of air conditioning.

Still, I wouldn't trade seeing the country on anything other than my bike.

Yeah I've thought about flying out and renting a goldwing to see some places however I still think I'd rather be on a BMW... the K-GT, K-RS, R-RT, R-ST are all much sportier and almost as comfortable as a wing... Plus you can actually back it up with your feet instead of a reverse gear. And you can pick it up if you drop it, unlike a wing.

If you haven't ridden a goldwing it's like the difference between your average car and a 30ft RV. Especially the ones with trailers and shit.

Yeah I've thought about flying out and renting a goldwing to see some places however I still think I'd rather be on a BMW... the K-GT, K-RS, R-RT, R-ST are all much sportier and almost as comfortable as a wing... Plus you can actually back it up with your feet instead of a reverse gear. And you can pick it up if you drop it, unlike a wing.

If you haven't ridden a goldwing it's like the difference between your average car and a 30ft RV. Especially the ones with trailers and shit.

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I take a week long trip just about every year with two old high school buddies and one of them rides a 'wing. We'll swap bikes at times and I love riding his bike. Compared to my old cruiser, his bike is a dream to ride. I now ride a FJR sport/tourer, which I love. It's been a year since I've ridden his bike and I'm anxious to see how it rides compared to the 'wing. I know his bike will be more comfortable but I think mine will out handle his.